Control mechanism for linecasting and composing machines



M y 17, 1933- M. T. GOETZ El AL 2,117,474

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAURUS T. GOETZ HAROLD W. HUDSON y 1938. M, T. GOETZ' ET AL 2,117,474

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I m 93 6? 79 ,M 7

King I52 INVENTOR. MAURUS T. GOETZ HAROLD W. HUDSON FIG. 4 BY ATT EY.

y 17, 1938 M. T. GOETZ ET AL 2,117,474

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I26 INVENTOR MAURUS T. GOETZ I I HAROLD w. HUDSON 6:43 I ,,a-\ am as Patented May 17, 1938 v UNITED STATES PATENT orsles CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTIN G AND COMPOSING MACHINES ware Application February 27, 1937, Serial No. 128,147

19 Claims.

This invention relates to linecasting and composing machines and particularly to apparatus for effecting the selective response of such machines to stored control conditions.

An object of the invention is to actuate concurrently a plurality of ordinarily individually responsive instrumentalities in direct response to a signal assigned to the control of one of the instrumentalities as a result of modification of a previously established signal condition associated with the selection of an operation functionally unrelated to those of the previously mentioned instrumentalities.

In the composition of material to be printed, it is the custom to finish all lines except certain short ones on a fixed right-hand margin. In composing machines of the line-casting species, this operation, called justification, is accomplished through the use of expansible space bands to provide inter-word spaces. As a line is con- 20 cluded, if the expansibility afforded by the included space bands is sufficient to expand the line until it fills the required column width, the line is said to be justifiable. It may sometimes happen that a composed line which is short of justifiable length will not accommodate the next word or the first syllable of that word. The compositor may increase the length of the line by inserting fixed spaces, which are blank matrices of uniform thickness, adjacent the space bands.

The subjection of linecasting and composing machines to automatic control, such as for example, in the manner disclosed in Patent No. 2,091,286 granted August 31, 1937 to Howard L. Krum et al., may necessitate special treatment 3 with reference to non-justifiable lines. Automatic control units of the type disclosed in the patent of Howard L. Krum et al. may be controiled by perforated strips which may be produced by means of a keyboard perforator, such as the one disclosed in Patent No. 2,059,250 granted November 3, 1936 to Howard L. Krum. The counting of the matrix thicknesses and minimum and maximum space band values cumulatively is accomplished concurrently with the application of the signals to the strip representing the matrices and space bands to be assembled. The deficiency of a line is discovered after the signals have been applied to the tape, but individual signals for the selection of fixed spaces cannot then be inserted conveniently because the already punched signals follow one another at closely spaced uniform intervals. It has been the practice heretofore to render the series of signals representing a deficient line ineifectiveby re'running the signals through the perforator and converting each to the so-called rub-out or all perforated signal. This series of ineffective signals is then followed by a reperforation of the signals representing the line to be composed, with the fixed space signals included at the desired points. The sensing of the idle signals, when the control strip is run through the control unit for the linecasting and composing machine, accomplishes no useful purpose and results in a period of idleness of the composing machine.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to control the release of fixed spaces to accompany a deficient line automatically, without the insertion of signals particularly associated with the release of fixed space matrices, and by the modification of a single signal preceding the deficient line. The signal it is proposed to modify is the elevator signal which controls the delivery of the immediately preceding assembled line to the line delivery slide. The modification comprises the perforation of an additional code hole or holes, whereby the ordinary elevator signal is converted into an extraordinary elevator signal. It may be accomplished by backing the control strip through the perforator until the elevator signal is aligned with the punches, and depressing the keylever assigned to the execution of an extraordinary elevator signal, or by inserting the additional perforation or perforations by means of a hand punch or by an auxiliary punch block in the keyboard perforator a distance from the main punch block approximating the average length of line. No other modification of the signals in the tape is required, and none of the signals in the deficient line is destroyed.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a signal responsive control unit for a linecasting and composing machine, such as the one disclosed in the above mentioned patent of Howard L. Krum et al. which includes a retractable interconnection between the selectable element assigned to control the release of space bands and that assigned to control the release of fixed space matrices, so that when the interconnection is not retracted to its position of disablement, the space band selectable element, upon operation, will impart movement to the fixed space selectable element to effect the release of a fixed space matrix simultaneously with the release of the space band.

The permutation code bars of the control unit are so coded with reference to the selectable e ement assigned to control the operation of the assembler elevator that that element responds to the extraordinary as well as to the ordinary assembler elevator signal. The linkage actuated by the selectable element for setting in operation the elevator operating mechanism shifts the retractable interconnection to ineifective position, where it is retained by a latch if the signal is an ordinary elevator signal. The latch is disabled by a selectable bail if the signal is the extraordinary elevator signal, and the interconnection member is permitted to move to its effective position, where it interconnects the fixed space selectable member with the space band selectable member. The interconnection member remains in effective position until it is retracted upon the selection of the next assembler elevator operation.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a linecasting and composing machine having an automatic control unit applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a portion of the automatic control unit embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of mechanism shown in Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the retractable interconnecting member in relation to the selectable elements.

Referring now to the drawings in which identical reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and particularly to Fig. 1, reference numeral II indi-. cates generally a linecasting and composing machine. The linecasting machine has a conventional keyboard mechanism 12, matrix storage magazine l3, space band storage magazine I4, assembler belt I6, and assembler elevator IT. The release of matrices from the matrix storage magazine I3 is effected by the lifting of release reeds it, which may, if desired, be controlled from the keyboard I 2, and the release of space bands I9 from space band storage magazine l4 may be effected by the lifting of a special release reed 2|, which may, if desired, be controlled by a manually operable space band keylever 22. A lever 23 pivoted intermediate its ends as at 24 has one end connected to the space band release reed 2| and has the other end connected to the space band esoapement mechanism 26. The assembler elevator IT has depending therefrom a link 21 which is articulated at its lower end to a crank arm 28 carried by a rock shaft 29.

Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the release reeds are lifted to effect the release of a matrix or a space band. Referring to that figure, it will be noted that keylevers 3| pivoted as at 32 have tongues 33 disposed in notches of individual weight bars 34, which are arranged to be lifted upon the rocking of a keylever 3| either manually or by automatic means. Each of the weight bars 34 is provided near its upper end with a notch in which is disposed one arm of a trigger bell crank 35, the other end of which normally supports a cam yoke 31 in such position that a keyboard cam 38 rotatably mounted in the cam yoke 3? is held out of engagement with a continuously rotating rubber roll 39. Each of the cam yokes 3! has a portion 4! disposed below a corresponding release reed H3 or 2|. The release reeds l8 and 2| are notched to provide a shoulder which rests upon a supporting bar 42, and the notch permits lifting of the release reeds.

The lifting of a weight bar 34 by operation of a keylever 3| causes the rocking of the associated trigger bell crank 36 which frees the associated cam yoke 3'! and permits it to drop until cam 38 engages rubber roll 39. Rotation is im parted to cam 38 by rubber roll 39 which causes cam yoke 31 to be rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2) to lift the associated release reed l8 or 2|. The lifting of cam yoke 31 by cam 38 returns it to the normal position where it is supported by trigger bell crank 36 in readiness for the next operation of the associated keylever 3! and weight bar 34.

Above each of the release reeds I8 there is a lever arm 43 pivoted as at 44 and having its free end adjacent to and in operative alignment with a plunger pin 46 of the matrix storage magazine escapements. The lifting of one of the release reeds l8 causes its associated lever arm 43 to be rocked. in clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) about its pivotal mounting 44 to cause escapement plunger 46 to be reciprocated.

The matrix release or esoapement mechanism comprises, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, a pair of esoapement pins 41 which may enter a matrix storage channel of the magazine alternately under the control of a rocker member 48 to which the pins are articulated. A spring 49 biases each rocker member 48 in clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) to present the foremost of esoapement pins 41 in blocking engagement with the foremost of the matrices 5| in the matrix storage channel. Each of the plunger pins 46 engages an abutment of the associated rocker member 48 so that when the plunger pin is reciprocated. the rocker member is rocked counterclockwise to withdraw the foremost esoapement pin 4'! to permit the foremost matrix 5| to escape while at the same time presenting the rearmost esoapement pin 41 in the path of the immediately following matrix to prevent that matrix from escaping with the foremost matrix. The restoration of rocker member 48 to normal position permits the matrix thus blocked to move down to a position in which it is retained by the foremost esoapement pin 41, so that it may escape from the magazine upon the next actuation of rocker member 48.

The present invention contemplates the operation of the keyboard mechanism I2 (Fig. 1) and of other instrumentalities of the linecasting ma chine, of which assembler elevator il', operable from rock shaft 29, is an example, under the control of an automatic control unit which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 6!, and which may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the hereinbefore mentioned pet-- ent of Howard L. Krum et al. The automatic control unit 6! is attached to the linecasting machine 5 I below and forward of the keyboard mechanism If and is arranged to be driven by power derived from any convenient continuously rotatable power shaft of the linecasting machine such as the intermediate shaft 52 (Fig. l). The power take-oil for driving the automatic control unit may be a pulley 63 mounted on the intermediate shaft 52. Pulley 63 drives a belt 54 which engages a pulley 66 (Fig. 3) keyed to a shaft El rotatably supported in the frame of control unit 6i.

Referring to Fig. 3, the principal elements of the automatic control unit 6| are a record reader mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 68, an operating shaft therefor 69, an assembler elevator operating shaft H, a set of permutation code selector members indicated generally by the reference numeral 12, a plurality of selectable elements or pull bars 13, a set of keylever operating bell cranks M (Fig. 2), and a set of auxiliary keylevers T6. The record reader mechanism 68 is adapted to sense perforations in a control strip and comprises a set of tape sensing levers, a set of transfer levers for communicating the conditions sensed by the tape sensing levers to the set of permutation members l2, and a tape feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing the tape, these elements and mechanisms not being disclosed in detail in the accompanying drawings for thereason that the record reader mechanism is fully described and illustrated in the patent of Howard L. Krum et al. to which reference may be had for a complete understand ing of that mechanism. Cams ll carried by record reader shaft 69 are provided for actuating the tape feeding, tape sensing, and transfer mechanisms of the record reader 68.

Record reader shaft 69 has sleeved thereon a gear '58 which meshes with a pinion l9 keyed to power shaft 6?. A spring loaded jaw clutch BI is provided for interconnecting shaft 69 with gear it to cause shaft 69 to be driven, and a clutch throwout lever 82 is associated with the driven portion of clutch 8| for effecting disengagement of that clutch. A retaining lever 83, having a shoulder 84, is provided for holding clutch throwout lever 82 in clutch disengaging position under circumstances which will be set forth hereinafter. A spring biased detent lever 86 engages a cam 8? carried by shaft 69 to prevent chattering of the teeth of clutch 8! when that clutch is disengaged, by insuring rotation of shaft 69 to such position that the teeth are fully disengaged and separated. Shaft 69 also carries a pinion 8-8 which drives a gear (not shown) carried by shaft 89. This shaft is provided with cam means iii (Fig. 2) extending across the entire set of pull bars 13 for stripping them from engagement with the set of code bars 12 when a new combination is to be set up, and with means (not shown) for periodically actuating a universal bail 92 (Fig. 2).

Shaft ll (Fig. 3) has sleeved thereon a gear 9% which is driven by a pinion 94 keyed to power shaft 61. A jaw clutch 96 similar to .iaw clutch 89 is provided for interconnecting shaft H with gear 93, and a clutch throwout lever 9! is provided for disengaging clutch 96. A lever 98, having a shoulder 99 for holding clutch throwout lever in in clutch disengaging position, is pivotally mounted by means of pivot screw ml to one of the frame members I02 of the automatic control unit. Lever 98 has a depending arm (not shown) adjacent the point of mounting of pivot screw lill to be engaged by an abutment portion 183 of a lever its, the operation of which will be described later, for lifting shoulder 99 out of blocking relation with the clutch throwout lever S'l. Spring biased detent lever Hi6 engages cam Ill! keyed to shaft H and operates in a manner similar to detent lever 86 to prevent chattering of the toothed portions of clutch 96 when disengaged Shaft H has keyed thereto a cam W8 upon the periphery of which rides a follower roll I99 carby a lever arm III, which, although shown broken away in Fig. 3, is secured to rock shaft Hi (Fig. 1), which operates to lift assembler elevator ll. Cam I68 imparts to rock shaft 29, through lever arm I II, the rocking motion required to raise and lower assembler elevator ll.

A finger H2 associated with lever arm III is arranged to depress an extended arm N3 of record reader clutch controlling lever 83 to lift the shoulder 94 thereof from blocking engagement with clutch throwout lever 82 when cam I08 is in its idle position, so that upon completion of an assembler elevator lifting operation, the record reader shaft 69, which is disabled upon the selection of an assembler elevator operation, as fully set forth in the patent of Howard L. Krum et al., shall be restarted. It will be understood that the ratios of gears l8 and 93 to their driving pinion-s may be such as to impart those rotational velocities to shafts 69 and "il which are consistent with operating requirements, and with marginal conditions in the linecasting and composing machine H.

Selecting unit 12 (Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) comprises code bars lid to which permutational settings, in accordance with signal conditions sensed by the record reader, are transmitted. Permutation code bars I it are flat bars placed side by side and mounted for individual endwise movement between two selective positions. Auxiliary code bar portions or connecting bars HG engage each of the code bars H 3 and extend into the record reader unit 68 where they are articulated to the transfer levers (not shown). Code bars H4 are permutationally notched along the upper and lower edges, so that for each permutational setting of the code bars there may be established an alignment of notches extending across the entire permutation unit M which alignment may be in the upper or lower edges of the code bars Il i. Selectable bars '53 extend transversely of code bars lid and are alternately disposed above and below the code bars. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the selectable bars 13 is fitted to a supporting bar H? by means of notches, and springs H8 urge the selectable bars 13 rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. 2) to seat the selectable bars upon rod ill. Springs H8 also bias those selectable bars which extend below code bars 5 l4 clockwise and those which extend above the code bars counterclockwise, whereby the selectable bars are urged to rotate into engagement with the code bars, and when permitted to rotate by the stripper or spreader earn 9!, they move into engagement with the code bars and that selectable bar ES which finds an alignment of notches rotates farther than do the other selectable bars and enters the alignment of notches.

Each of the selectable bars l3 is provided on the edge, which is adjacent to the code bars H4 and near its forward end (left end as viewed in Fig. 2), with a shoulder I it which is presented in the path of universal bail 92 upon selection of the selectable bar 13 by entrance of that bar into an alignment of notches. Universal bail 92 is shown in its normal or unoperated position in Fig. 2, and. when it is actuated by shaft 89 which carries spreader cam 9i, it is moved leftwarclly (as seen in Fig. 2) and engages the shoulder H9 of any bar l3 which has been selected and imparts en wise movement leftwardly to that bar.

As previouly stated. each of the selectable bars is which is assigned to the release of a matrix or a space band has in alignment with it one arm of a bell crank lever M which is pivoted on mounting shaft l2 i. The other arm of each of the bell cranks M is disposed above and substantially in engagement with a forwardly extending portion I22 of an auxiliary keylever 78. The auxiliary keylevers '55 are pivoted as at I23 and each has a tongue 12 which is disposed in a notch in one corresponding weight bar 34.

of the weight bars 34. It will be apparent from this that any one of the weight bars 34 may be lifted to trip the associated cam yoke 31 by depressing the forward end of the associated keylever 3i or by depressing the foremost portion I 22 of the associated auxiliary keylever 16. It will also be apparent that leftward movement of a selected one of the pull bars I3 by universal bail 92 will cause clockwise rocking of the associated bell crank I4 which will depress the forward end of its associated auxiliary keylever I23 to lift the The patent of Howard L. Krum et al. hereinbefore identified. may be consulted for a fully detailed description and showing of the apparatus thus far described.

As set forth in the beginning of this description, the primary purpose of the invention is to effect the simultaneous release of a fixed space matrix and a space band in response to a space band signal when the compositional conditions require the extra spacing. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a rock shaft I26 is supported for endwise as Well as rocking movement in the frame of the automatic control unit SI (see Fig. 3). At its righthand end (as viewed in Fig. 3), slidable rock shaft I26 is provided with a flanged bushing I21, the flange of which is disposed in the space between the forward end of assembler elevator clutch tripping lever I04 and a hook shaped projection I28 carried by that lever adjacent the forward end thereof. A compression spring I20 surrounds slidable rock shaft I26 and is confined between one of the supporting members of the shaft and a collar I3I fixed to the shaft. Spring I29 provides a force which urges shaft I25 to slide endwise to the left and flanged bushing I2? establishes a limit for leftward movement of the shaft.

Endwise movable rock shaft I26 is provided with upstanding lugs I32 and I33 the former of which intersects the vertical plane defined by space band selectable bar I34 regardless of whether shaft I26 is in its extreme left-hand or right-hand position, the latter of which intersects the vertical plane defined by fixed space selectable bar I36 only when slidable shaft I20 is in its extreme left-hand position. Space band selectable bar I34 differs from selectable bars I3 in that it is provided with a forwardly extending tongue I3? which terminates substantially in engagement with the upstanding lug I32 on the rear face thereof. Fixed space selectable bar I35 differs from selectable pull bars I3 in that it is provided with a rearwardly extending tongue I33, the free end of which is arranged to be engaged by the front face of upstanding lug I33 when shaft IE5 is shifted to its left-hand position (Figs. 3 and 5). A tension spring I39 engages a spring pin I40 carried by shaft I26 and applies to the shaft a rotational bias to keep lug I32 in engagement with tongue I31 of selectable bar I34.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that when space band selectable bar I34 enters an alignment of notches in the code bar H4 so that it may be shifted forwardly by universal bail 92 to effect the release of a space band, it will rock the shaft I25 counterclockwise (as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5) and if shaft I25 is then disposed in extreme left-hand position, upstanding lug I33 will engage tongue I38 of fixed space selectable bar I 35 and will shift that selectable bar forwardly to rock its associated bell crank lever I4 and accomplish the tripping of the cam yoke 31 which is assigned to the release of a fixed space matrix concurrently with the tripping of the cam yoke which controls the release of a space band. In this way, fixed space selectable bar I36 may be operated by bail 92 indirectly from space band selectable bar I 34 through the intermediate agency of rock shaft I26 as effectively as if an alignment of notches had been presented to fixed space selectable bar I35 to permit it to be actuated directly by universal ball 92.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a spring biased latch i4I pivotally mounted as at I42 is provided for engaging the flange of bushing I21 to hold slidable shaft I26 in its right-hand position so that upstanding lug I33 is not in registry with tongue I30 of fixed space selectable bar I30. A bail I43, which has a rod I44 extending transversely of the code bar auxiliary bars H6 adjacent the upper edges thereof, is pivoted at I46 and is provided with a vertical arm I47 which engages latch MI and rocks the latch counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) to permit the flange of bushing IZ'I to escape therefrom when bail I43 is permitted to rock clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4) under the urging of a biasing tension spring I48. The auxiliary connecting bars M5 for the code bars H4 are individually notched as at I49 and for a p rticular permutational setting of the code bars I I4 under the control of the record reader mechanism 68, the notches I49 become aligned below rod I44 carried by bail I43 and permit the bail to rock in response to spring I48 whereby latch I22 is disabled as a restraint upon slidable shaft I26.

Lever I04, in addition to tripping assembler elevator clutch throwout lever 91 through lever 98, also is effective to restore slidable shaft I26 to its right-hand position where it may be held by latch I4I. Lever I04 is dually controlled by the selectable bar I3, which is assigned to the control of assembler elevator shaft clutch 96, and by a forked member I5I carried by a rod I52 controlled by the line delivery carriage of the linecasting and composing machine II. The effect of forked member I5I upon clutch tripping lover I .04 is fully disclosed and described in Patent No. 2,006,860 granted July 2, 1935 to M. T. Goetz et al. by reference to which it may be learned that rod I52 moves endwise a short distance in accordance with the operation of the line delivery carriage of the composing machine, the rod I52 being presented in its extreme right-hand position when the line delivery carriage is in position to receive an assembled line of matrices from the assembler elevator, and is in its extreme lefthand position when the line delivery carriage is in transit. Forked member I5! thus serves as a shiftable pivot for lever I04. The operation of lever I04 under the control of the selectable bar I3, which is assigned to an assembler elevator lifting operation, comprises movement of the forward end of lever I04 rightwardly, as is also disclosed in Patent No. 2,006,860. When forked member I5I is in its extreme right-hand position, the rightward movement of the forward end of lever I04 is effective to rock lever 08 by means of abutment I03 to free clutch throwout lever 9'! from shoulder 99 and permit the toothed elements of clutch 00 to become interengaged. However, when forked member I5| is in its extreme left-hand position, rightward movement of the forward end of lever I04 does not shift its abutment a suficient distance to the right to trip lever 90. Irrespective of the position of forked member I5I, the rightward movement of the forward end of lever I04 is sufiicient to cause hooked member I28 to engage the flange of bushing I21 and to shift the flange to the right of the latching shoulder of latch MI.

The automatic control unitiherein disclosed is adapted to be controlled by a perforated record strip in which the perforations are uniformly spaced along the strip with no extra spacing occurring between signals representing the end of one line of composition and the beginning of the next. An assembler elevator signal is the final signal in any group of signals representing a line of composition, and causes the assembler elevator to transfer the assembled line of matrices and space bands to the line delivery carriage. Since it is expedient to minimize the use of signal combinations in the record strip, the sole function of which is to accomplish a conditioning operation in the automatic control unit which has no immediately corresponding function in the composing machine, in order to obtain maximum efficiency from that machine, it is desirable not to employ a special signal combination assigned to the sole function of conditioning the control unit for operation of the fixed space pull bar by the space band pull bar. In control strips, as employed for operating the control unit, there is no space, between the assembler elevator signal for a given line and the character code signal at the beginning of the next line of composition, into which a fixed space adding signal could be nserted. The need for such signal does not become apparent to the operator of the control strip preparing machine, which may be of. the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,059,250 granted November 3, 1936 to H. L. Krum, until signals representing substantially an entire line of matrices have been impressed upon the control strip. It, therefore, is not feasible to predetermine the need of a fixed space adding signal and apply it to the control strip ahead of the first character code signal of a line of composition.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it has been found convenient to render the assembler elevator selectable bar responsive to either of two permutation code signals one of which may be a primary or ordinary elevator signal, the other of which may be a secondary or extraordinary elevator signal. The secondary elevator signal may, if. desired, comprise one or more perforations in addition to perforations of the number and in the positions assigned as the primary elevator signal. The manner in which the code bars of a permutation code unit may be notched to render a single selectable member responsive to two different code signal combinations is fully described in Patent No. 2,098,973 granted November 16, 1937 to A. H. Reiber.

The notches I46 in the code bar links II6 are related to the notching of the code bars so that notches I49 are aligned below bail rod I44 when the code bars have been set in accordance with the extraordinary assembler elevator signal, but no such alignment of the notches I49 is presented to red I44 when the code bars are set in accordan ce with the primary assembler elevator signal.

In order that the operation of latch MI and lever I 64 to control rod H26 under both conditions of selection of assembler elevator operation may be understood, let it be assumed first that code bars H4 are set in accordance with the normal or primary elevator signal. Bail rod I44 remains unselected and latch I4! is held in blocking relation to the flange of flanged bushing I21. The forward end of lever I04 is moved rightwardly due to operation of its associated selectable bar I3 by universal bail 92, and during this movement hook portion I28 of lever I04 engages the flange of bushing I21 and shifts rock shaft I26 rightwardly irrespective of whether that shaft had I been in its extreme leftward position or latched by latch I4I until the flange is carried to the right of the locking shoulder of latch I4I. As the forward end of lever I64 returns to its normal or leftward extreme position, shaft I26 is unable to follow it to the left beyond the point of engagement of the flange with the latching shoulder of latch I4I. Upstanding lug I33 of shaft I26 is thus held out of registry with tongue I38 of fixed space selectable bar I36, and upon each actuation of selectable bar I34 a space band only is released;

Assume now that the code bars II4 are positioned in accordance with the secondary or extraordinary elevator signal. Notches I49 in code bar links II6 are aligned beneath bail rod I44, and as the rod enters the alignment of notches, bail I43 is rocked clockwise by spring I 48. The rocking of bail I43 withdraws the latch I4I from engagement with the flange of bushing I21, and the latch is held out of the path of that flange as long as the code bars remain set in accordance with the extraordinary elevator signal, which is preferably long enough for the foremost end of lever I 64 to be presented in it extreme right-hand position and return to its normal position. This permits shaft I26 to move endwise to the left a distance which carries the flange of bushing I21 to the left of the locking shoulder of latch I4I so that when the code bar setting is changed and bail I43 returns to unselected position to present latch MI in latching position, the flange of bushing I2? has escaped from the latch so that shaft I26 remains in its extreme leftward position to present its upstanding lug I33 in registry with tongue I36 of fixed space selectable bar I36 until it shall be shifted rightwardly in response to the next assembler elevator signal.

It will thus be observed that endwise movable rock shaft I26 is shifted to its idle or ineffective position in response to the sensing of every assembler elevator signal whether ordinary or extraordinary. The difference between the two elevator signals is interpreted by bail I43, which controls latch I4I to retain shaft I26 in idle position or to permit it to move to its effective position as the case may be.

It should be noted that the interconnection between space band selectable bar I34 and fixed space selectable bar I36 is not reversible in operation. Selectable bar I36 is free to respond to a flxed space signal established in the code bars and to be actuated by universal bail 92 to effect the release of a fixed space from the matrix storage magazine I3 without imparting rotation to shaft I26 or without disturbing the effective control of selectable bar I34 upon selectable bar I36 to rock shaft I26.

The provision of extraordinary elevator signals in the control strip is a matter of operating technique with reference to a strip perforating mechanism such as the one disclosed in Patent- No. 2,059,250. As previously stated, the operator of the perforating mechanism does not discover that extra spacing will be required until signals representing a nearly completed line have been impressed upon the control strip. An elevator signal for the preceding line of composition has already been applied to the tape, and that signal is a normal or ordinary elevator signal. In order that the needed extra spacing may be provided for the line, the composition of which is about to be completed, the elevator signal for the preceding line may be converted from the ordinary to the extraordinary elevator signal. This conversion may be effected by adding to the control strip, in the area assigned to the already perforated ordinary elevator signal, the additional perforation or perforations by which the extraordinary elevator signal differs from the ordinary elevator signal. It is understood, as previously stated, that the extraordinary elevator signal will be identical with the ordinary signal except that it will have one or more additional perforations. The addition of these perforations may be accomplished in several ways. For example, the tape may be backed through the punch block of the perforating mechanism shown in the patent, until the normal elevator signal preceding the unfinished line of composition is in registry with the punches, whereupon the keylever assigned to the perforation of the extraordinary elevator signal may be depressed to effect conversion of the elevator signal by the addition of one or more perforations. The conversion perforations may also be added to the tape by a hand punch, if it is not desired to employ the perforator of the strip preparing mechanism, or to provide a keylever for the extraordinary elevator signal.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, but is capable of modification, rearrangement, omission, and substitution of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of ordinarily individually responsive instrumentalities, a pair of concurrently responsive instrumentalities, and means controlled by one of the last mentioned instrumentalities for causing one of said ordinarily individually responsive instrumentalities to respond concurrently with said pair of instrumentalities.

2. In a selector mechanism, a signal sensing mechanism, a plurality of instrumentalities ordinarily individually responsive to sensed signals, means for interconnecting certain of said instrumentalities for concurrent operation responsive to the signal assigned to one of them, and signal responsive means functionally unrelated to said certain instrumentalities for conditioning the interconnecting means.

3. In a signal responsive selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements responsive individually to single signals, a selectable element responsive to a predetermined signal, and means controlled by the last mentioned element for conditioning certain of the first mentioned selectable elements to operate concurrently in response to a single signal.

4. In a permutation code selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements responsive individually to single permutation code combinations, a selectable element responsive to a particular permutation code combination, and means controlled by the last mentioned element for establishing an operative interconnection between certain of the first mentioned selectable elements.

5. In a permutation code selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements responsive individually to single permutation code combinations, a selectable element responsive to a particular permutation code combination, and means controlled by the last mentioned element establishing an interconnection operable unidirectionally between one of the first mentioned selectable elements and another.

6. In a linecasting and composing machine including matrix releasing, space band releasing, and line transferring mechanisms, signal responsive means for selectively controlling said mecha nisms, and means responsive to a line transferring control'signal for interconnecting said space band releasing mechanism and certain of said matrix releasing mechanisms.

7 In a linecasting and composing machine including matrix releasing, space band releasing, and line transferring mechanisms, signal responsive means for individually controlling said matrix releasing mechanisms, signal responsive means for controlling said space band releasing mechanism, means responsive to a plurality of signals for controlling one of said line transferring mechanisms, and means responsive to one of said transferring mechanism control signals for interconnecting with said space band releasing control means one of said matrix releasing control means.

8. In a linecasting and composing machine including fixed space matrix releasing, space band releasing, and line transferring mechanisms, signal responsive means for individually controlling said fixed space matrix releasing and space band releasing mechanisms, means responsive to a plurality of signals for controlling one of said line transferring mechanisms, and means responsive to one of said line transferring mechanism control signals for imparting to said space band releasing control means operative control over said fixed space matrix releasing control means.

9. In a linecasting and composing machine including fixed space matrix releasing, space band releasing, and line transferring mechanisms, signal responsive means for individually controlling said fixed space matrix releasing and space band releasing mechanisms, means responsive to a plurality of signals for controlling one of said line transferring mechanisms, and means cooperative with the last mentioned means and responsive to one of said line transferring mechanism control signals for subjecting said fixed space matrix releasing control means to operation by said space band releasing control means.

10. Signal responsive mechanism for controlling linecasting and composing machines, including a plurality of selectable elements, signal controlled means for controlling the selection of said elements, a rock shaft extending transversely of said selectable elements, and means carried by said shaft in abutment with a portion of a selectable element for rocking said shaft in response to selective operation of said element.

11. Signal responsive mechanism for controlling linecasting and composing machines, including a plurality of selectable elements, a rock shaft extending transversely of said selectable elements, means carried by said shaft in abutment with a portion of one of said selectable elements for rocking said shaft in response to selective operation of said element, and further means carried by said shaft in substantial abutment with a portion of another selectable element for effecting quasi selective operation thereof.

12. Signal responsive mechanism for controlling linecasting and composing machines, including a plurality of selectable elements, an endwise movable rock shaft extending transversely of said selectable elements, means carried by said shaft for imparting rocking motion thereto-under control of one of said selectable elements, further means carried by said shaft for imparting movement to another of said selectable elements depending upon the endwise presentation of said shaft, and means for moving said shaft endwise to present said further means in movement imparting relation to said other selectable element.

13. Signal responsive mechanism for controlling linecasting and composing machines, including a plurality of selectable elements, an endwise movable rock shaft extending transversely of said selectable elements, means carried by said shaft for invariably receiving movement from one of said selectable elements, further means carried by said shaft for selectively imparting movement to another of said selectable elements depending upon the endwise presentation of said shaft, means tending to move said shaft endwise to present said further means in movement imparting relation to said other selectable element, means for restraining said shaft from endwise movement to said movement imparting position, and selectively operable means for disabling the restraining means.

14. A linecasting and composing machine including a magazine having fixed space matrices and space bands, a selector mechanism responsive to control indicia appearing in a control strip, elements controlled by said mechanism for controlling the release of fixed space matrices and space bands, a device selected and operated by said selector mechanism for each line of composition, and means controlled in response to said indicia in said strip which also selects and determines the operation of said device for causing the operation of said element for the fixed space matrix simultaneously with the operation of the element for said space bands.

15. A device for the automatic control and operation of linecasting and composing machines including a selector mechanism responsive to control indicia in a control strip, a plurality of elements selectable by said mechanism, means operated by said mechanism in response to a particular indicia for effecting the dual selection of certain of said elements, and means whereby one of said dually selected elements is operated subsequently to the operation of said other dually selected element.

16. In a signal responsive selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements responsive to individual signals, a selectable element responsive to a particular signal, and means controlled by said last mentioned element for establishing a condition whereby certain of said first mentioned selectable elements operate concurrently in response to a single signal.

1'7. In a signal responsive selector mechanism, a plurality of selector elements responsive to individual signals, certain of said elements arranged to operate concurrently, instrumentalities responsive to a particular signal identified with two operations for establishing a condition for such concurrent operation, and means thereafter effective for causing said concurrent response.

18. In a signal responsive selector mechanism, a plurality of selector elements responsive to individual signals, certain of said elements arranged to operate concurrently, instrumentalities responsive to a signal identified with a previous group of signals for establishing a condition for such concurrent operation, and means effective in response to a signal accompanying another group of signals for causing said concurrent response.

19. In a signal responsive selector mechanism, a plurality of selector elements responsive to individual signals, certain of said elements arranged to operate concurrently, instrumentalities responsive to a signal identified with a previous group of signals for establishing a condition for such concurrent operation, and means effective in response to each signal of similar identity accompanying a subsequent group of signals for the composition of a line of matrices for causing such concurrent operation.

MAURUS T. GOETZ. HAROLD W. HUDSON. 

